Horse-blanket.



No. 683,570. Patented Oct. l, [90L J. E. MOWILLIAM.

HORSE BLANKET.

(Application Med Dec. 31, 1897. Renewed Jan. 12, 1901.)

(No Model.)

Witnesses. f I Inventor.

Attorneys.

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UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES E. MCWILLIAM, OF HUBBARDSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

HORSE-BLANKET.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters J Eatent No. 683,570, dated October 1, 1901- Application filed December 31, 1897. Renewed January 12, 1901.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, J AMES E. MCWILLIAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hubbardston,in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Horse-Blankets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a composite horseblanket; and the object of my invention is to provide a light strong absorbent blanket which can be manufactured comparatively cheaply and which will not readily become impregnated with the odors of the stable.

To this end my invention consists of an improved fabric and the blanket made therefrom, as hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a horse-blanket constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of the layers which are employed, and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a piece of the fabric.

The stable-blankets which are now used as coverings for sweating or overheated horses are objectionable, as the pores of said blankets speedily become choked or clogged with dirt and grease, so that they cease to be good absorbents and are impregnated with stableodors.

In making my improved horse-blanket I employ a central layer of rolled peat fiber, which is inclosed by facin gs of jute or other textile material.

Peat fiber I have found to be a good absorbent, while at the same time it is light and comparatively inexpensive, and by rolling the same the central layer will be substantially a felted product having considerable tensile strength.

One especial advantage in using rolled peat fiber in a horse-blanket fabric resides in the fact that the peat fiber will act as a disinfectant and will not become impregnated'with stable-odors, while at the same time it is sufficiently coarse to take up a considerable quantity of moisture.

4 Referring to the drawings and in detail, B designates a central layer of rolled peat fiber, and A and O designate facings of jute or other textile material. The inner facing O is pref- Serial No. 43,017. (No model.)

erably considerably coarser or woven more openly than the outer facing A, so that the layer of rolled peat fiber B can more readily absorb the sweat or moisture of the horse, while the outer facing A is woven sufficiently closely to retain heat, while still. permitting the evaporation of moisture.

In the manufacture of myimproved horseblanket the crude peat is first pounded in any of the ordinary manners, after which it may, if desired, be associated with more or less wool-stock, and it is then passed through rollers and associated with the facings of jute, the three layers being stitched or quilted together, as at ll. In some cases the central layer of peat fiber may be rolled into sheets or felted wadding first and then associated with the outer facings. The blankets may then be cut from this fabric and the edges thereof bound, as at 10, and the ordinary trimmings or buckles stitched or riveted thereto in the ordinary manner.

Blankets in which I have employed woolstock in connection with rolled peat fiber have been found to be somewhat warmer than blankets which have their central layer formed from rolled peat fiber alone, and on this account I prefer to use a considerable percentage of wool-stock to form the central layer; but it is obvious, however, that the wool may be omitted, if desired, or that different material may be associated with the central layer of rolled peat fiber. I do not wish, therefore, to be limited to the use of peat fiber alone; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-- 1. As an article of manufacture, a horseblanket fabric comprising a central layer of rolled peat fibers, and facings or outer layers of cloth inclosing the central layer, substantially as described.

2. As an article of manufacture, a horseblanket, comprising a central layer of rolled peat fiber, and facings or layers of cloth, the inner facing being woven openly to provide meshes, permitting the central layer to absorb moisture, substantially as described.

3. As an article of manufacture, a threeply fabric for horse-blankets comprising a central layer of rolled peat fibers and facings of textile material, the inner facing .being outer facing, to the central layer substantially as layer B of peat and wool fiber rolled together,

C of jute, the inner facand facings A and ing 0 being woven more openly than the outer facingA to provide meshes permitting the central layer B to directly absorb moisture, the said layers being quilted together as at 11, and having their edges bound as at 10, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES E. MGWILLIAM.

lVitnesses:

PHILIP W. SOUTHGATE, LoUIs 'W. SOUTHGATE. 

